I reach her and then she screams. “Stay away from me. I hate you, Cormack. I will never love you. I belong to another. You lost out.”
I shout out, “No,” waking up in a panic, only to find Gloria sleeping sweetly on her belly with a content smile on her face.
As if sensing I’m awake, my phone rings. Groggily I reach over to the nightstand and scoop it up. With blurry eyes, I see it’s her father. Climbing out of bed, I answer with a panting, “Delaney.”
“You piece of shit. What the fuck are you doing with my daughter?” I cut him off by ending the call. At this moment, I don’t need that shit. Entering the kitchen, I pour a cold glass of water, and like I expect he calls back. “Ready to calm the fuck down?”
He huffs, but calmly replies, “Is this some plan to get US connections? I looked you up Delaney. First, polygamy is a crime here.”
“How ironic that a mob boss is lecturing me on crime. And I’ll have you know that I’m not married yet. The only Delaney married is my brother. Although, I will say this, I’m marrying Gloria and it has shit to do with you or your supposed connections. I didn’t even know she was related to you. Not that it would have stopped me, but I didn’t learn about it until yesterday.”
“Where is my daughter? Her guards said she disappeared running in fear yesterday, threatening to castrate them.”
“Sounds like my Gloria.”
“Your Gloria?” he challenges. I can imagine his face is beet red.
I roll my eyes, knowing that the only reason I don’t hang up again is that he’s Gloria’s father. “That’s what I said. Gloria will be my wife in two days’ time. I’m supposing that you’d like to see it happen so if I was you’d I’d get to Kilkenny soon.”
“Who the hell do you think you are?”
“I’m Cormack Delaney, a dangerous motherfucker madly in love with your daughter and there’s no way in hell will I let you sell her to one of your cronies back there.”
“Sell? I wouldn’t sell my daughters and she turned down any potential guys I suggested.”
“That’s very good because I’d hate to kill a bunch of bastards. Gloria’s mine and I don’t care who has a problem with it. I refuse to live without her by my side and thankfully she feels the same damn way.”
“I’d like to hear that from her mouth.”
“Frankly I don’t care what you’d like. You can when you arrive. My bride is sleeping, and I won’t wake her up.”
“She’s probably tied up and can’t speak.” Man, I want to choke this asshole.
“Listen, your daughter speaks highly of you, and it’s the only reason I even bothered to call you in the first place. I’ve had a hell of a day and I don’t have the patience or the mood to deal with an angry father when Gloria is old enough to marry me.”
“You’re the one who called me.”
I look at the time on the clock. “Not at three in the morning. I called you hours ago.”
Gloria slides up by my side and snatches the phone from my hand. I take her and carry her to the sofa. She giggles and then says, “Papa, I’m sorry that you and Cormack are getting off on the wrong foot. He just buried his father today. Yes.” His voice dropped so I can’t hear what he said. “Yes, Papa. Very much. Okay, Papa. We’ll see you in two days. I’m sure there will be people to pick you all up. Goodnight.” She ends the call and hands me back my phone.
I stare at her completely dumbfounded. “He’s putty in your hands, isn’t he?” I ask, knowing that’s the only explanation for the suddenly calm temper.
“A big marshmallow, but he loves us girls. He wants to talk to you tomorrow when you’re both a little more level-headed, and he’s sorry about your father. Now, my handsome future husband, let’s go to bed. I’m tired and I’m tired of waking up alone.”
“I’m sorry. I’ll try to not let it happen again.” I kiss her lips, needing to wipe that pout off her face.
“Just as long as you let me know you’re leaving.”
“Okay. I promise, my love. Now it’s bedtime.” I carry her to bed and then we get cozy, snuggling until we fall asleep.
****
This time when we wake up, I’m still cuddling my woman and she’s resting her head in the crook of my arm. I stare at her, loving the feeling which made it so hard to leave after our first night together.
Gloria stretches and snuggles in, kissing my chest as she finishes a yawn. “Good morning, wife.”
“Not yet,” she breathes against my chest.
“As far as I’m concerned you already are my wife.” I tip her chin and kiss her lips.